ebb and flow:
a rhythmic or recurrent pattern of
coming and going or
decline and regrowth.
waves crashing
over and over.
continuous.
never ending.
one after another
in a rhythmic and
recurrent pattern.
mesmerizing.
comforting.
soothing.
something
akin to the
reassuring
steadiness
of a heartbeat.
water flows up onto rocks or sand,
then is drawn back into the
ocean as another wave
crashes
over.
the ebb
and flow
of the
ocean.
the ebb
and flow
of life.
seasons exist when
the ebb simply
overwhelms
the flow.
the motion seems to be
d
o
w
n
w
a
r
d
rather
than
upward.
backward
rather than
forward.
and in all honesty,
I much prefer the
season of the flow
over the
season of the ebb.
yet the longer I live
the more clearly
I see that if
life was
always
flowing
with no ebb,
the ocean would
no longer stay within
the boundary of the ocean.
the Creator of the oceans
knows all and understands.
He holds our aching hearts
when life feels broken and
fractured and spinning out
of
control.
He gently whispers words of assurance:
"I saw you before you were born.
Every day of your life was recorded in
My book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed."
Psalm 139:16 (pronouns changed)
so rest in the sound of the waves
crashing
and know that
His love holds
you in the
ebb and flow of life.
and remember that His heartbeat
underlies all of life.
The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.
Psalm 145:13
sometimes it is hard to keep believing.
hard to keep believing
that what you heard
is what you heard.
that still
small
voice
gave you a
promise.
some promises are of life or death.
some promises are of family or friendship.
some promises are of purpose or place.
and the list goes on. and on.
you alone know your promise
for it was imprinted on your heart.
whether the words were nearly audible
or a pressing on your spirit,
or directly from His Word,
or spoken over you,
you knew.
and you still know.
yet as time passes...days
weeks
months
even years,
the memory
of when
of where
the promise was given,
and perhaps even the promise itself,
begins
to
fade.
and you wonder if
what you heard was
what you really heard.
or you wonder if God forgot
or if God changed His mind.
and you feel a sense of
forgottenness.
(and as a side note which really isn't a side note,
is this not where the enemy tries to pull a
chair up to the table of the heart and
begin speaking lies?)
and doubts creep in.
I know, for I have been there.
I also know because I am there.
yet I know that I know that I know
that God keeps His promises.
gently He reminds that
time and space as I
understand is but a
breath to Him.
tenderly He reminds that
He. sees. all.
He. knows. all.
and His promises
and our prayers
are eternal.
they live on from
generation to
generation.
and He looks in my eyes,
reminding me that He is the God
of surprises.
He is far too creative
and powerful and
glorious and loving
to be placed inside
any box into which
I try to place Him.
in other words,
the answer to the promise
will most likely look much different
than what my finite mind
has pictured.
and never will
He go backward,
for He is a God of
forward motion.
and He always keeps
His
promises.
